Show me your 308 Norma or bigger brother 358 Norma

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

.358 Norma Magnum. Built on a Remington Model 30 Express action built by Mark Chanlynn with one of his barrels. Unusual laminated stock. Another rifle that puts a smile on my face.

View attachment 428544View attachment 428545View attachment 428546

@Lee in Texas
Good to see the dog leg bolt. Is it still cock on closing
Bob

 

[Lee in Texas]

@Lee in Texas
Good to see the dog leg bolt. Is it still cock on closing
Bob

I don’t remember. I’ll have to check.

 

[machinistbutler]

Tried out the 308 Norma with a Leupold VX 2 3-9, it worked really well.

Just purchased a Schmidt Bender Klassik 3-12 x 50 with a 7 reticle. I just love my other Schmidt Bender scopes so I thought I would try it on the Norma. Hope to use it a bit during this year's whitetail rut. Just love the Schmidt for low light.

 

[gprippers]

FN rifle rechambered to 308 Norma mag. Have always been a Norma Mag fan and i think its the best mag 30 caliber out there if you like to handload. Longer neck etc...allows greater versatility in bullets to load. Traded off my 358 Norma to my godson, but i like that as well. Almost forgot that i have a 338 Norma in a heavy ELR type rifle. LOL!

I guess at this point i need to get rid of a couple items and get a 300 Norma mag which is also a dandy cartridge but its based on the 338 norma necked down to 30 cal. I have owned a couple three Weatherby 30-378 and 338-378s as well that i really liked.

Anyway here is the FN custom 308 Norma Mag!

 

[machinistbutler]

FN rifle rechambered to 308 Norma mag. Have always been a Norma Mag fan and i think its the best mag 30 caliber out there if you like to handload. Longer neck etc...allows greater versatility in bullets to load. Traded off my 358 Norma to my godson, but i like that as well. Almost forgot that i have a 338 Norma in a heavy ELR type rifle. LOL!

I guess at this point i need to get rid of a couple items and get a 300 Norma mag which is also a dandy cartridge but its based on the 338 norma necked down to 30 cal. I have owned a couple three Weatherby 30-378 and 338-378s as well that i really liked.

Anyway here is the FN custom 308 Norma Mag!

View attachment 434529

Nice rifle but what's that thing on the end of the barrel?

 

[gprippers]

That there is a noise maker! Came on the rifle when i bought it and it does its job....sure is noisy!

 

[machinistbutler]

Took my son north for his first deer hunting trip last week. Found a good spot, set up the sticks and did some deer grunts.

About fifteen minutes later a deer came into view down the line and began walking towards us.

I had the 308 Norma, and had a Savage 25/06 for my son. Wouldn't you know it the savage, which has never ever gave me a problem, jammed up trying to load it.

Told my son to get behind the Norma, which he had shot in camp with no problems. He waited until it turned a bit then did a great shot on the buck.

We used the Norma 180.grain oryx load. Very happy son!

 

[jwp475]

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[cash_tx]

Tried out the 308 Norma with a Leupold VX 2 3-9, it worked really well.

Just purchased a Schmidt Bender Klassik 3-12 x 50 with a 7 reticle. I just love my other Schmidt Bender scopes so I thought I would try it on the Norma. Hope to use it a bit during this year's whitetail rut. Just love the Schmidt for low light.

View attachment 433085View attachment 433086

@machinistbutler , what year is your Browning Safari Grade 308 Norma? I have a 1968 one that I will post to this thread also.

 

[cash_tx]

My 308 Norma Mag is a 1968 Browning Safari Grade with the FN Mauser action, wearing a Bausch & Lomb Balvar 8B 2.5-8X for optics. I inherited this after my Dad passed away in May 2020, and he had bought it as a pair from a man in central Texas back in the early 1970's (the other one being a Safari Grade in 30-06 from around 1962, and that one wore a B&L Balvar 8A 2.5-8X external adjustment scope). I have always loved this gun as one of my favorites in his collection, and was quick to claim it due to its uniqueness. It has only been used on Texas whitetail deer, so the only ammo I have for it is hand loaded Sierra 150gr. BTSP's backed by 73.5 grains of IMR-4350; but I'm currently working up a load using Sierra 165gr. BTSP's and the same powder. So far, I'm almost down to 1 MOA with the new handload; but still working my way through the different powder charges (then I'll start working on seating depth).

 

[machinistbutler]

@machinistbutler , what year is your Browning Safari Grade 308 Norma? I have a 1968 one that I will post to this thread also.

I believe it is a 67 or 68, can't remember but I can check when I get home. Kind of a funny thing the deer my son took with it was its first animal. The original owner had it for 30 years and never hunted , a friend of mine bought It, and fired a few rounds out of it , and as he had a 300 win he was comfortable with he never took it hunting either. He did mount a scope on it though, which I promtly removed when I purchased it from him .

It goes very nicely with my Belgium 338 and 375 ! Very well made rifles.


Craig

 

[cash_tx]

I believe it is a 67 or 68, can't remember but I can check when I get home. Kind of a funny thing the deer my son took with it was its first animal. The original owner had it for 30 years and never hunted , a friend of mine bought It, and fired a few rounds out of it , and as he had a 300 win he was comfortable with he never took it hunting either. He did mount a scope on it though, which I promtly removed when I purchased it from him .

It goes very nicely with my Belgium 338 and 375 ! Very well made rifles.


Craig

Been awhile, but I'm following up on this thread. Did you ever determine what year your Safari Grade was made? If a 67 or 68, I suspect the serial number will start with a 7L or 8L (respectively).

EDIT: Nevermind. I just noticed in one of your earlier pictures that the serial number starts with a "7L", making it a 1967.

 

[Pheroze]

I built a 308 Norma Magnum and took it to South Africa. It was perfect for that trip. My son and I took a mix of Vaalie to Eland. Great cartridge with 180 gr Cutting Edge Maximus bullets. Mine was built in Quebec by Lemieux Amuriers. Very happy with this rifle.

 

[SkullKeeper]

I’m late to the party but this is my 358 Norma - FN action with Timney trigger. Haven't had a chance to do any load development but I do have Norma brass and Barnes TSX 225 gr flat base bullets in case anyone wants to share data.

 

[wolfhunter]

One of my go to rifles is a 35 whelen A.I. I only fired 200gr. and 225gr. I often thought about putting together a 358 norma but didnt think I could that much more velocity over the whelen. the 35 Whelen is the hammer of thor on big moose 3 AK 1 alberta

 

[jwp475]

One of my go to rifles is a 35 whelen A.I. I only fired 200gr. and 225gr. I often thought about putting together a 358 norma but didnt think I could that much more velocity over the whelen. the 35 Whelen is the hammer of thor on big moose 3 AK 1 alberta

What bullet and load did you use on the moose. What velocity?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

One of my go to rifles is a 35 whelen A.I. I only fired 200gr. and 225gr. I often thought about putting together a 358 norma but didnt think I could that much more velocity over the whelen. the 35 Whelen is the hammer of thor on big moose 3 AK 1 alberta

@wolfhunter
I have both the standard Whelen and the AI. I find the loads I use in the standard Whelen to be fine and can see the extre little I used to get from AI version not worth the extra work and expense fire forming cases and the cost of dies to be worth the effort
If a 225gn @2,900fps won't do the job a 250gr @ 2,700 should and if I need extra I can step up to a 310gn @2,455fps. That is out of a standard Whelen.
I'm glad you like the Whelen it's an awesome cartridge.
Bob

 

[wolfhunter]

225 gr swift on the Alaskan bulls 225gr nosler part. alberta 200gr tsx Alaska caribou seen grizzly's everyday hunting caribou north of the brooks range 225 gr colse to 3000fps